Plainview uses 12-run inning to beat Marietta

Coming off the Lake Country Conference tournament championship over the weekend, the Plainview Indians didn’t miss a beat in Monday’s 12-1 win over Marietta.

“Jordan Rickets did a good job on the mound,” Plainview coach Brent Hackney said. “He threw a lot of strikes and we made plays behind him, and we were able to take care of business at the plate.”

The Indians (13-6) led 3-1 after the first inning and posted nine more in the second to win by run-rule.

Tyler Lawrence, Vinny Martinez and Taber Jordan were walked to lead off the inning and Lawrence scored on a wild pitch.

Jackson Wallace showed patience in the batter’s box and was walked to reload the bases.

Carter Bowker hammered a grounder to second that was mishandled allowing Martinez to score from third.

Drake Harper walked in a run in the next at bat for a 6-1 Indians lead.

Kyle Williams lined out to center field but Gus Wells added to the score with another RBI walk in the next at bat.

Cameron Sleanksey followed suite with a walk to bring in a run for an 8-1 Plainview lead.

“The guys showed discipline on their pitch selection,” Hackney said.

Lawrence came to the plate for the second time in the inning and hit a grounder to third that led to a force out, but brought home Plainview’s sixth run of the inning for a 9-1 lead.

Jordan added two more runs in a more traditional manner with an RBI line drive to center field.

Martinez took advantage of yet another wild pitch in the next at bat to give Plainview a 12-1 lead that held up for the win.

Marietta managed to load the bases in the top of the third and fourth innings, but the Indians’ defense and a timely strikeout by Jordan Rickets kept Marietta from mounting a comeback.

Rickets tossed four innings and struck out two.

Jordan and Harper had two RBIs and two hits apiece, and Rickets had an RBI. Bowker and Martinez each drew two walks.

“I’m definitely proud of the way we’ve been coming along,” Hackney said. “We’re giving ourselves a chance to win and throwing strikes. That’s what we stress all the time. We’re making all the routine plays — as we should. We’re giving ourselves a chance, and that’s all we can ask for.”

Plainview will be tested with two larger schools on the schedule this week. Byng visits the Indians today and they host the Ardmore Tigers on Thursday.

Page 2 of 2 - “Byng is good and they’re talented, as always,” Hackney said. “We had a couple good battles with them last year and one of them was in the semifinals of the state tournament. It’ll be an important ball game for both of us. We typcically play Ardmore every year a couple of times, and they beat us earlier in the year. We’ll be anxious to get another shot at them.”